The United States is preparing to stop certain arms deliveries to Ukraine that were promised during the Biden administration as Russia increases its military attacks.

The pledges, which include different kinds of ammunition to support Ukraine’s defence, are now being reviewed as the Pentagon is rechecking its current weapon stockpiles. This could suggest a change in policy under President Donald Trump, who has supported a more limited role in military actions abroad.

"This step was done to place America first after reviewing our country's military aid and support to other nations around the world," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated Tuesday in a release.

A Pentagon review reportedly found that some of the United States' inventories were "too low" to warrant shipping them to Ukraine right away, according to an anonymously quoted US official cited by Politico, which first reported the pause in military assistance.

"America's military has never been more prepared and more able," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, adding that a big defence and tax bill moving through Congress would help in upgrading equipment for long-term deterrence.

Politico and other US news outlets reported that the weapons being held back include Patriot air defence system missiles, precision artillery, and Hellfire missiles. After the announcement, Ukraine summoned the US Ambassador to Kyiv, John Ginkel, to discuss the future of their defence partnership.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa thanked Ginkel’s country for the support, but cautioned that stopping the supply of weapons, especially air defence systems, would strengthen Russia.

"Any postponement or delays in the provision of Ukraine's defence capabilities will only make the aggressor go on waging the war and terror, instead of pursuing peace," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained.

Russia responded by saying that the United States’ decision might actually speed up the end of the war. "The fewer weapons delivered to Kyiv, the faster there will be peace," the Kremlin stated on Wednesday.

This suspension of weapons aid comes at a time when Ukraine is facing one of the most intense periods of Russian airstrikes since the war began and the possibility of a ceasefire which Trump had long supported, has weakened with talks between Kyiv and Moscow still stuck.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United States has sent more than 66 billion dollars in weapons and security support to Ukraine.

Throughout the war, the United States has also asked its allies to send air defence systems especially Patriot batteries, though many NATO countries, especially those in Eastern Europe, have been hesitant due to concerns about provoking Russia.

Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during last week’s NATO summit and confirmed that Ukraine had requested more Patriot systems.

"They do want to have the antimissile missiles, okay, as they refer to them – the Patriots," Trump told a small group of reporters. "We're going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. We're giving them to Israel, and they're very effective. Hard to believe how effective."

Elbridge Colby, who is undersecretary for policy at the US Department of Defence, said the administration is working to continue helping Ukraine while also making sure US military readiness is not affected.

"The department is closely studying and evolving its approach," Colby explained, "while upholding US forces' readiness for ongoing defence priorities."